Former President Appears To Offer Endorsement Of Lula

Former President of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso has appeared to throw his weight behind President challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the October 2 Brazil general election.

• Cardoso on Twitter: "I ask voters to vote on October 2nd [for] those who are committed to combating poverty and inequality, defend equal rights for all regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation [...] strengthening the institutions that ensure our freedoms..."
• Andre Pagliarini at Brazil Report: "Ex-president won't explicitly say he's voting for [Lula] but calls on everyone to vote for the candidate "committed to fighting poverty and inequality... [...]That person obviously not Bolsonaro."
• Second such endorsement by a prominent member of the Brazilian political establishment following former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles earlier this week.
• Lula maintains comfortable lead in poll with 10 days until general election. Brian Winter at Americas Quarterly: "I do not know which poll is correct or whether Lula is up by 6, 10 or 15. But virtually all of the credible ones are showing stability in recent weeks, and that’s bad news for Bolsonaro."